Kidney Transplant Recipient With Cerebral Paradoxical Embolism Following Recurrent Idiopathic Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Paradoxical embolism occurs when a thrombus crosses an intracardiac defect into the systemic circulation. Here, we present the case of a 35-yearold male kidney transplant recipient with a cerebral paradoxical embolism associated with a spontaneous venous thromboembolism. This patient had recurrent deep venous thrombosis and showering emboli to the lung and paradoxically to the brain through patent foramen ovale, and we treated him successfully. The role of bubble echocardiography was essential in diagnosis to avoid contrast-induced nephropathy. This is the first successfully managed case of a kidney transplant recipient with recurrent idiopathic deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and cerebral paradoxical embolism. Bubble echocardiography was an excellent alternative to contrast angiography to avoid nephrotoxicity. Vitamin K antagonists are superior to direct oral anticoagulants, especially among nonadherent/noncompliant patients.

Full Correction of Posttransplant Anemia Is Associated With Stabilized Cardiac Dimensions Among Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Posttransplant anemia might be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and increased mortality. To our knowledge, the debate on anemia correction has neither been revisited nor decided definitively. We aimed to assess the effects of full correction of posttransplant anemia on the cardiovascular system and quality of life among renal transplant recipients with stable graft function who were using erythropoietin-stimulating agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 247 kidney recipients with stable graft function to be assessed for anemia. Eligible patients were randomized to achieve targeted hemoglobin of 11 to 12 g/dL (group 1, n = 183) or of 13 to 15 g/dL (group 2, n = 64) with the use of erythropoietin-stimulating agents. Patients underwent monthly clinical and laboratory evaluations of kidney graft function. Quality of life and echocardiography were assessed at study start and at 12 months. RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable regarding pretransplant characteristics. In group 2, we observed comparable posttransplant complications (P > .05) but better graft function at 6 months and better cardiac indexes at 1 year of the study (P < .05). At 12 months, quality of life had improved after full correction of posttransplant anemia in the renal transplant recipients who received erythropoietinstimulating agents. CONCLUSIONS: Full correction of posttransplant anemia in renal transplant recipients was associated with improved quality of life and cardiac indexes without an effect on cardiovascular comorbidity.

Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction in cirrhotic patients: An observational study.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent complication observed in male patients with liver cirrhosis; however, there is limited understanding of the etiological determinants responsible for its occurrence. The objective of this investigation is to explore potential contributory factors that underlie the development of ED in male patients with liver cirrhosis. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 male patients with liver cirrhosis, who were divided into three groups according to the Child score. ED was studied using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire and penile Doppler. Results: The prevalence of ED among the cirrhotic patients was 80%, and it was more frequent in patients with advanced liver disease (Child C). Penile venous leakage was observed in 20% of cirrhotic patients, which increased to 28.6% in those with advanced liver cirrhosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, low albumin levels, elevated INR, high hemoglobin levels, and Child C were predictors of ED in cirrhotic patients. Conclusion: Several clinical variables have been identified as potential contributors to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with cirrhosis. These variables include advanced age, decreased levels of albumin, elevated INR, increased hemoglobin levels, and Child C classification. Early identification and treatment of these factors could potentially improve the quality of life for cirrhotic patients with ED. Notably, patients with ED in this population were observed to have elevated levels of INR, serum bilirubin, and hemoglobin, as well as reduced levels of serum albumin.

A comparative study of novel ruthenium(III) and iron(III) complexes containing uracil; docking and biological studies.

Structural and biological studies were conducted on the novel complexes [Fe(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (FeU) and [Ru(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (RuU) (U = 5,6-Diamino-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione) to develop an anticancer drug candidate. The two complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Based on our findings, these complexes have octahedral geometry. The DNA-binding study proved that both complexes coordinated with CT-DNA. The docking study confirmed the potency of both complexes in downregulating the topoisomerase I protein through their high binding affinity. Biological studies have established that both complexes can act as potent anticancer agents against three cancer cell lines. RuU or FeU complexes induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by increasing caspase9 protein and inhibiting proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) activity. In addition, both complexes down-regulate topoisomerase I expression in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the RuU and FeU complexes' anticancer activities were mediated via both apoptosis induction and topoisomerase I down-regulation. In conclusion, both complexes have dual anticancer activity pathways that may be responsible for the selective cytotoxicity of the complexes. This makes them more suitable for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.

Gremlin-1 Level In Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And Its Clinical Correlations; A Case Control Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the involvement of the level of Gremlin-1 in serum and follicular fluid in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Method: The case-controlstudy was conducted at the Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from September 2021 to February 2022, and comprised women with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy controls. All participants were subjected to a detailed clinical assessment, complete clinical examination and hormonal profile assessment. Gremlin1 concentrationsin plasma and follicular fluid samples were assessed by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 90 subjects, 45(50%) were patients with a mean age of 29.53±4.82 years, and 45(50%) were controls with a mean age of 30.89±6.08 (p>0.05). Mean weight, body massindex, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p<0.05). Serum and follicular fluid Gremlin-1 levels were significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.05). The best cutoff of serum Gremlin-1 in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was ≥1.325ng/ml with area under curve 0.857,sensitivity 93.3%,specificity 68.9%, positive predictive value 75%, negative predictive value 91.2% and overall accuracy 81.1%. The best cutoff of follicular fluid Gremlin-1 in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was ≥1.725ng/ml with area under curve 0.789,sensitivity 73.3%,specificity 68.9%, positive predictive value 70.2%, negative predictive value 72.1% and overall accuracy 71.1%. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong correlation between serum and follicular Gremlin-1 levelsin polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

Assessment Of Endometrial Integrin Beta 5 In Women With Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between endometrial integrin beta 5 level and risk of recurrent pregnancy loss. Method: The descriptive, prospective, observational, case-controlstudy was conducted at the Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from January to May 2022, and comprised women aged up to 35 years with at least 1 live birth delivery beyond 20-week gestation with normal thyroid and prolactin levels. Age-matched normal fertile women were enrolled as controls. All the participants were subjected to detailed history and complete clinical examination. Endometrial integrin beta 5 was assessed using an antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 50 subjects, 25(50%) were cases with a mean age of 26.72±2.64 years, and 25(50%) were controls with a mean age of 25.36±2.16 years. The integrin beta 5 level was significantly lower among the cases than the controls (p<0.05). The best cut-off level of serum integrin beta 5 was ≤2.5765 with area under curve 0.886, sensitivity 88%, specificity 76%, positive predictive value 78.6%, negative predictive value 86.4%, and accuracy 82%. CONCLUSIONS: Therewas an inverse correlationbetween endometrial integrinbeta 5 andthe risk ofrecurrentpregnancy loss.

Development and Validation of a Modified QuEChERS protocol Coupled to Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Rapid and Accurate Determination of Acrylamide in Cereal-Based Baby Foods.

BACKGROUND: With the widespread consumption by children of cereal-based baby food, acrylamide contamination is a prevalent risk that may have carcinogenic consequences. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and validate a modified QuEChERS protocol (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) without solvent exchange, followed by rapid separation and accurate determination of acrylamide in cereal-based baby foods using reversed-phase (RP)-LC-MS/MS. METHODS: Samples were extracted using a modified QuEChERS protocol of the AOAC version and cleaned up with basic alumina. Separation was performed on a Phenomenex® Kinetex C18 column (100 Å × 3.5 µm × 4.6 mm × 150 mm) using a gradient elution program with a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium formate-methanol. Determinations were conducted using electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS in positive-ion mode. RESULTS: Basic alumina yielded clean extracts, resulting in acceptable recovery percentages and a tolerable matrix effect (ME) <5%. This allowed extraction without a solvent exchange step. Efficient separation was achieved at a retention time (tR) of 3.39 ± 0.05 min employing an RP-C18 column with core-shell properties in a relatively short analysis run time of only 5 min. Trueness, precision, LOD, LOQ, linearity range, and R2 results were 92.5-104.6%, RSD ≤12.2%, 5 µg/kg, 20 µg/kg, 4.0-1000.0 µg/kg, and > 0.9999, respectively. The test method applicability was demonstrated by proficiency testing (PT) and 50 real samples of cereal-based baby foods. Most of the tested samples were in violation of acrylamide's established European Union benchmark (40 µg/kg). CONCLUSION: Acetate-buffered QuEChERS protocol in conjunction with optimized amounts of basic alumina was confirmed as an efficient extraction protocol for acrylamide from cereal-based baby foods resulting in optimal method performance. Successful selection of the RP-C18 column is key for selective separation for acrylamide in a relatively short analysis run time. HIGHLIGHTS: The modified AOAC QuEChERS protocol with a dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) of basic alumina assisted in reducing the ME to tolerable levels while maintaining acceptable method performance. The use of an RP-C18 column with core-shell properties enabled a rapid and accurate acrylamide determination.

A pilot study to compare propranolol and misoprostol versus misoprostol and placebo for induction of labor in primigravidae; a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The Induction of labor is the most common obstetric procedure in daily practice. Introducing propranolol as a new drug to augment the action of prostaglandins will help in the induction process and decrease CS rates. Several researchers have used propranolol in the augmentation of labor. AIM: This pilot study compares propranolol and misoprostol versus misoprostol alone for labor induction in primigravids. METHODS: This is a Randomized clinical trial, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial at Ain Shams University Maternity hospital. This study included 128 pregnant full-term primigravid women candidates for labor induction, randomized into two groups. All candidates underwent labor induction with 25 µg of vaginal misoprostol. Group I received 20 mg of oral propranolol tablets, while group II received sugary pills as a placebo. Candidates who responded successfully to induction were assessed for possible augmentation of labor by amniotomy or oxytocin infusion. The Primary outcome was induction to delivery interval, while the secondary outcomes were the duration of the latent phase, mode of delivery, and APGAR score of the neonate. RESULTS: The induction-delivery time was (11.8 ± 8.1 h. vs. 12.6 ± 8.9 h., P value = 0.027) and the duration of the latent phase of labor (7.9 ± 5.6 h. vs. 9.2 ± 6.03 h., P value = 0.017) were significantly shorter in the group of misoprostol and propranolol compared to the group of misoprostol and placebo. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups' mode of delivery, indications for cesarean section, misoprostol, and oxytocin doses, or neonatal outcome. (P value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Propranolol, when used with misoprostol for induction of labor, results in augmentation of action of misoprostol and a significantly shorter induction-delivery interval. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We retrospectively registered this trial in clinicaltrial.gov on 01/09/2020 (NCT04533841). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04533841.

The study of the strength and significance of four biological parameters on the body weight of goose.

Alternative products such as those from high-value protien animals have increased the demand for the production of high-quality chicken meat in past few years. This study examines the impact of two distinct feeding types on goose body-weight, as well as the genetic variation of growth hormone (GH) and pituitary-specific transcription factor (Pit-1) genes in ten goose populations using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and PCR-RFLP analysis. Both genes were seen as very important for productivity, especially in light of the COVID-19 and its effect on poultry industry at the time. The findings suggest that employing genetic indicators in these two genes in conjunction with a high-fat diet may be a feasible strategy for goose selection programme aiming to increase marketing body weight, as the high-fat diet outperformed the balanced diet. The study investigates the effect of gender, 2 types of diets, breeds and the genetic variation of the two genes, four SNPs were reported to be found: two at the GH gene exons C123T and C158T, and two at the Pit-1 gene exons G161A and T282G. Certain genotypes were found to have a substantial effect on the marketing body-weight of goose, which varied depending on the tested breeds. However, in terms of gender, males report higher and better performance levels than females. Diet, breeds and genotype interaction, and breeds, gender and genotype interaction were found to have a minor effect on goose body weight. However, diet, breeds, gender, SNP locus, diet and breeds interaction, and breeds and gender interaction were found to have a significant effect on goose body weight, as indicated by the effect size results.

Antibacterial efficacy of chemically and plant-synthesized zinc oxide nanocomposite against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli inoculated in Tilapia fillet

Aims@#Edible coatings developed from biodegradable materials such as starch and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPS) are efficient antimicrobials that could be used as a food additive to reduce the bacterial load on the food surface. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine the effect of chemical and green synthesized ZnO-NPS with different concentrations on the survival of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in fish fillets during chilling storage at 4 ± 1°C.@*Methodology and results@#ZnO-NPS were chemically prepared by mixing zinc acetate dihydrate with sodium hydroxide. Lavandula officinalis was used for the green synthesis of ZnO-NPS. The sterile biodegradable coating containing 2 and 5% of both chemically and green synthesized ZnO-NPS were made using starch, gelatin, xanthan gum and glycerol. Different bacterial cocktail strains of both E. coli and S. aureus were inoculated onto Tilapia fillet samples. The coating solution with different antimicrobials was aseptically spread in Tilapia fillets and examined periodically within two days intervals for the survival of S. aureus and E. coli during chilling at 4 ± 1 °C. Both chemically and plantsynthesized ZnO-NPS reduced the growth of both S. aureus and E. coli by about 3.7 log10 CFU/cm2 of Tilapia fillet. The incorporation of L. officinalis increased the antibacterial activity of ZnO-NPS. Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive than E. coli for both chemically and plant-synthesized ZnO-NPS. Moreover, zinc oxide biodegradable coating extended the shelf-life of chilled Tilapia fillets by about 4 days.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The results of the current study demonstrated the incorporation of L. officinalis into ZnO-NPS biodegradable coating which may be promising in reducing microbial growth on food surfaces.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of clinical and subclinical bovine respiratory disease in Holstein calves.

Background and Aim: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the main cause of death in calves, and early BRD diagnosis saves lives. This study aimed to diagnose clinical and subclinical BRD in calves by assessing some biochemical alterations and ultrasonography (USG). Materials and Methods: Fifty-four Holstein dairy calves in Al-Sharqiyah Province, Egypt, were used in the study. They were divided into three groups. The first control group consisted of 10 clinically healthy calves. The second group consisted of 34 calves suffering from clinical lower respiratory tract disorders. The third group consisted of 10 subclinical BRD-affected calves. Ultrasonographic examinations of chest and thoracic ultrasound scoring were performed once per 2 weeks for each calf. Blood samples were collected for serum separation to measure albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), ALB, globulin, and haptoglobin (HP). Results: The USG revealed small consolidation areas within an aerated lung lobe, a hypoechoic parenchyma of the entire distal lung lobe, and a hypoechoic-circumscribed structure surrounded by an echogenic wall appeared within the lung tissue in calves that suffered from lobular pneumonia, lobar pneumonia, and lung abscess, respectively. However, subclinical cases showed a small consolidation area in the cranial aspects of the right cranial lung lobe. The ultrasound lung score (ULS) was greater in clinical than in subclinical cases. The BRD-affected calves recorded significant increases in serum TP, globulin, and HP. Meanwhile, serum ALB decreased significantly. Conclusion: Thoracic ultrasound had a reliable tool in the BRD diagnosis, especially in the early prediction of subclinical cases in newborn calves. In addition, the ULS appeared to be a better classifier than the clinical respiratory score (CRS) for BRD diagnosis. On the other side, it was found that regression models were very useful in assessing the prediction of biochemical blood parameters based on the ULS and CRS in diseased cases.

Effect of a Novel Betel Leaf Dentifrice on Commonly Seen Oral Hygiene Parameters-A Randomized Clinical Crossover Study.

The use of herbal medicine in dentistry has grown exponentially over time. Currently, herbal medicine is considered an effective oral hygiene aid. The objective of the current study is to assess the anti-plaque efficiency and reduction of gingival bleeding of betel leaf and miswak (Salvadora persica) toothpaste. This randomized clinical cross-over pilot study enrolled 60 individuals with mild gingivitis. They were segregated into two groups by drawing lots. The study lasted 20 days and included a two-week washout period between miswak and betel leaf toothpaste. The gingival and plaque index were measured at specific time intervals during the research period. The results revealed that betel leaf and miswak herbal toothpaste significantly decreased plaque index. Nevertheless, betel leaf toothpaste caused a more significant reduction in gingival bleeding scores (p < 0.001) when compared to miswak (p = 0.007). No significant decrease in gingival and plaque index was seen when subjects were asked to return to their conventional chemical toothpaste. The current study concluded that betel leaf toothpaste displayed a more substantial decrease in gingival bleeding when compared to miswak toothpaste. Additionally, more studies should be done on the therapeutic benefits of betel leaf toothpaste.

Vitamin D Supplementation Could Enhance the Effectiveness of Glibenclamide in Treating Diabetes and Preventing Diabetic Nephropathy: A Biochemical, Histological and Immunohistochemical Study.

Diabetes mellitus is an oxidative stress-related disease characterized by hyperglycemia and a variety of complications, including nephropathy. Vitamin D has variable functions extending beyond the calcium metabolism to prevent oxidative tissue damage. We aimed to investigate whether vitamin D supplements could enhance Glibenclamide's effectiveness in treating diabetes and minimize the risk of associated pathology. Wistar rats were divided into normal control (n = 10) and diabetic (n = 30), where animals received two low doses of Streptozotocin 30 mg/kg/BW intraperitoneally to develop diabetes. The diabetic rats were then randomly divided into three equal groups: untreated, treated with Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), and treated with Glibenclamide and Vitamin D3 (500 IU/kg). After eight weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and blood samples and kidney tissues were collected to evaluate biochemical, anti-oxidant, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and histological and immunohistochemical changes. Diabetic animals had significantly increased fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, blood urea, serum creatinine, and Malondialdehyde levels, whereas serum insulin, albumin, and the anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly decreased compared to normal control (p < 0.01). Furthermore, some renal histological changes were observed together with significantly increased immunoreactivity of anti-p53, anti-TNF-α, and anti-IL-6 antibodies when compared to the normal control. All abnormal parameters improved significantly with Glibenclamide therapy (p < 0.01), but combination therapy with vitamin D produced a much better result. In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation along with anti-diabetic medication can help prevent or reduce the severity of diabetic nephropathy due to its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Tuning the structural and catalytic properties of copper(II)-based complexes containing pyridine-2,6-diimines.

Four mononuclear penta coordinated copper(II) chelates, [CuLnBr2] nH2O, containing the tridentate neutral ligands, pyridine-2,6-diimine (Ln), were prepared via the template technique. Analytical and several physicochemical methods have been used to characterize the prepared metal chelates. Square-pyramidal stereochemistry was described to the current copper(II) complexes. DFT technique has been applied to optimize the structure of the running diimines and their corresponding copper-based compounds. Ligand substitution study performed to link the catalytic potency of the candidate oxidase mimics and their lability characters. Spectral investigations reveal that nature of substituents of the chelated ligands effectively tuning the Lewis acidity of copper(II) centers. Biomimetics of redox proteins specifically containing copper were examined towards the aerobic oxidation of polyphenol. Kinetic studies with the stopped-follow technique showed a close association between the Lewis acidity of the copper(II) nuclei of the prepared chelates and their oxidase-like activity. The catalytic activity of the natural enzyme (catechol oxidase from sweet potatoes) measured and compared with that for the present CuII chelates. The thermodynamic parameter drive force (ΔG° or λ) of the performed oxidation processes was determined from the values of redox potential of the chemical species involved in these catalytic reactions. The proposed catalytic reactions pathways have been discussed based on the outcomes of the kinetic investigations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Evaluation of urinary FOXP3 mRNA as a biomarker of lupus nephritis in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIM: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of SLE. Tregs (Regulatory T lymphocytes) are thought to play a part in the pathogenesis of SLE. According to recent research, Foxp3, a Treg identification marker, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of SLE. This study aimed to compare the urinary Foxp3 mRNA levels of patients with active and inactive forms of LN and healthy control subjects to see whether it played a role in disease activity. METHODS: We measured FOXP3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the urine of 50 people with active LN, 50 people with inactive lupus, and 50 healthy people. RESULTS: We found that the expression level of FOXP3 was significantly higher in urine from patients with active LN than from subjects with inactive lupus and healthy controls (22.93 ± 4.13 vs 5.66 ± 0.47 vs 0.57 ± 0.15copy; P < 0.001).Urinary FOXP3 mRNA level significantly correlated with SLEDAI (0.000057) In the active group, urinary FOXP3 mRNA level also significantly correlated with histological activity index (< 0.00001). CONCLUSION: We concluded that urinary FOXP3 mRNA is elevated in patients with active LN and that it is linked to the SLEDAI and the severity of the disease. FOXP3 mRNA in urine sediment may be used as a non-invasive biomarker for evaluating the severity of LN and risk stratification.

Staphylococcus aureus derived hyaluronic acid and bacillus Calmette-Guérin purified proteins as immune enhancers to rabies vaccine and related immuno-histopathological alterations

Purpose@#One of the essential goals regarding the successful control of rabies infection is the development of a safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccine. the current study aimed to evaluate the inactivation potential of β-propiolactone (βPL), binary ethyleneimine (BEI), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). @*Materials and Methods@#Estimating the inactivation kinetics of βPL, BEI, and H2O2 revealed that the tested inactivants could completely and irreversibly inactivate rabies virus within 2, 12, and 4 hours, respectively while maintaining its viral immunogenicity. The potency of βPL, BEI, and H2O2 inactivated vaccines was higher than the World Health Organization acceptance limit and were in the order of 3.75, 4.21, and 3.64 IU/mL, respectively. Monitoring the humoral and cellular immunity elicited post-immunization using Staphylococcus aureus derived hyaluronic acid (HA) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin purified protein derivative (PPD) adjuvanted rabies vaccine candidates were carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. @*Results@# @*Results@#demonstrated that both adjuvants could progressively enhance the release of anti-rabies total immunoglobulin G as well as the pro-inflammatory mediators (interferon-gamma and interleukin-5) relative to time. However, a higher immune response was developed in the case of HA adjuvanted rabies vaccine compared to PPD adjuvanted one. The harmful consequences of the tested adjuvants were considered via investigating the histopathological changes in the tissues of the immunized rats using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Lower adverse effects were observed post-vaccination with HA and PPD adjuvanted vaccines compared to that detected following administration of the currently used alum as standard adjuvant. @*Conclusion@#Our findings suggested that HA and PPD could serve as a promising platform for the development of newly adjuvanted rabies vaccines with elevated immune enhancing potentials and lower risk of health hazards.

Evaluation of zinc-oxide nanocoating on the characteristics and antibacterial behavior of nickel-titanium alloy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ZnO nanocoating on mechanical properties of NiTi orthodontic wires and antibacterial activity. METHODS: 0.016 x 0.022-in NiTi orthodontic wires were coated with ZnO nanoparticles using an electrochemical deposition method with three electrodes system in 0.1M Zn(NO3)2. Mechanical properties and frictional resistance of the coated wires were investigated using an universal testing machine. Antibacterial effect of ZnO coating was also investigated. RESULTS: A stable adhered ZnO nanocoating on NiTi wires was obtained. The coated wires have a significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. pyogens and E. coli, and a reduction of frictional forces by 34%. CONCLUSION: ZnO nanocoating may improve the antibacterial effects of NiTi wires and reduce the frictional resistance. Coating may be implanted in orthodontic practice for faster and safer treatment.

Evaluation of zinc-oxide nanocoating on the characteristics and antibacterial behavior of nickel-titanium alloy

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effect of ZnO nanocoating on mechanical properties of NiTi orthodontic wires and antibacterial activity. Methods: 0.016 x 0.022-in NiTi orthodontic wires were coated with ZnO nanoparticles using an electrochemical deposition method with three electrodes system in 0.1M Zn(NO3)2. Mechanical properties and frictional resistance of the coated wires were investigated using an universal testing machine. Antibacterial effect of ZnO coating was also investigated. Results: A stable adhered ZnO nanocoating on NiTi wires was obtained. The coated wires have a significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. pyogens and E. coli, and a reduction of frictional forces by 34%. Conclusion: ZnO nanocoating may improve the antibacterial effects of NiTi wires and reduce the frictional resistance. Coating may be implanted in orthodontic practice for faster and safer treatment.

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito do nanorrevestimento de óxido de zinco (ZnO) sobre as propriedades mecânicas e propriedades antibacterianas de fios ortodônticos de NiTi. Métodos: Fios 0,016" x 0,022" de NiTi foram revestidos com nanopartículas de ZnO por meio de um método de deposição eletroquímica com um sistema de três eletrodos a 0,1M Zn(NO3)2. Uma máquina universal de testes foi utilizada para avaliar as propriedades mecânicas e a resistência friccional dos fios revestidos. Além disso, também foram analisadas as propriedades antibacterianas do revestimento de ZnO. Resultados: Obteve-se uma aderência estável das nanopartículas de ZnO sobre os fios NiTi. Os fios revestidos apresentaram atividade antibacteriana significativa contra S. aureus, S. pyogens e E. coli, e apresentaram uma redução de 34% na força de atrito. Conclusão: O revestimento com nanopartículas de óxido de zinco pode melhorar as propriedades antibacterianas e reduzir a resistência friccional dos fios de NiTi. Assim, o revestimento dos fios pode ser utilizado na Ortodontia visando tratamentos mais rápidos e seguros.

Gene polymorphisms of Patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3), adiponectin, leptin in diabetic obese patients.

Obesity leads a crucial importance in metabolic disorders, as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our present study was designed to assess the potential role of irisin, adiponectin, leptin and gene polymorphism of PNPLA3, leptin and adiponectin as predictive markers of diabetes associated with obesity. One hundred eighty subjects were distributed to three groups including; healthy non-diabetic non obese volunteers as a control group, diabetic non obese group, and diabetic obese group (n = 60 for each group). Fasting blood samples of all groups were collected to determine fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triacylglycerol, irisin, adiponectin, leptin; as well as, polymorphism of PNPLA3, adiponectin and leptin. The results showed that glucose, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, irisin, leptin, LDL-C, triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly increased, however, insulin, HDL-C, adiponectin were significantly decreased in diabetic obese patients in relation to diabetic non-obese patients as well as in healthy volunteers. The polymorphism of PNPLA3 rs738409 was linearly related to irisin and leptin but was not related with circulating concentrations of adiponectin. We concluded that increased irisin and leptin levels can predict the insulin resistance in obese patients. Moreover, patients who have mutant genotype of PNPLA3 I148 gene (rs738409) C>G, ADIPOQ gene (rs266729) G>C and LEP gene (rs2167270) G>A showed a significant higher susceptibility rate for DM in obese people than those with wild type. This could be considered as an adjustable retort to counter the impact of obesity on glucose homeostasis.

Robust electrical parameter extraction methodology based on Interior Search Optimization Algorithm applied to supercapacitor.

Supercapacitor (SC) is completely valuable as an energy storage device for different applications such as electric vehicles and hybrid renewable systems. A simple SC model that composed of series RC circuit is insufficient to precisely characterize its dynamic performance. Consequently, an accurate mathematical model must be created for reliable and safe operation of SC. The equivalent circuit model that contains three RC branches, immediate, delayed and long is considered, the first branch includes voltage-dependent capacitance. The second one determines the terminal behavior in minute-time range while the last branch determines the behavior for time longer than 10 min. Such model has eight unknown parameters to be determined. A new formula to estimate the SC voltage is derived. For first time Interior Search Algorithm (ISA) is employed to identify these parameters. The obtained results are compared with those obtained by other different optimization algorithms like Genetic Algorithm (GA), Moth Flam Optimization (MFO), Antlion Optimizer (ALO), Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), and Artificial ecosystem-based optimization (AEO). Two different capacitors with values of 470-F and 1500-F are considered during the validation process. Extensive statistical analysis is carried out to prove the reliability of the proposed methodology. The results confirmed high level of agreement between experimental data and optimized model circuit.